La Face Cachée de la Pomme Neige Ice Cider

Brewed by La Face Cachée de la Pomme
Style: Ice Cider
Hemmingford, Canada

Bottle at Københavnske Øldage 2007. Clear cobber - no head. Very smooth. High sweetness, concentrated apple juice, honey. A bit as powerfull as unfiltrated coldpressed applejuice. Very nice.

bottle (200ml, clear). Via trade with mouton_noire. Rating #2200. "Récolte 2005." Pours oily-looking clear refractive brass-gold, no head, no bubbles, but from what I know of ice wines, this is exactly as it should be. The aroma is initially mild (needed to warm), eventually it opened to reveal a complex combination of sweet ripe apple, a little brown sugar, some bone-dry musty white wine and a hint of tartness. Taste - just wow. Who would ever drink ice wine again after this? Smooth, silky, real-apple, sweet but not cloying, a hint of light spice hovering in the background, warming but muted alcohol, no aftertaste (other than apple), no burn - man that’s a fine thing. Silky, sticky body - neither thick nor watery, just perfect, really, not carbonated but that’s not the point here, it just sits on the tongue and you mourn it’s passing and realize why it’s so expensive. Stunning.

Bottle from puzzl. Pours clear, pale and still. The aroma is heavily floral, clover, apples and a honey like sweetness. The flavor is uber concentrated apple sweetness, honey, clover and just a touch of tartness on the finish. Full, sticky body is very dense and coating. Nice sipper. It’s not the French style cider that I usually like, but this is really nice for what it is.

5/4/07. Poured out of 200 mL bottle, obtained in a trade with Olivier_MTL on RateBeer 12/3/05. 2005 Vintage. Lovely, luminescent, crystalline golden color, completely still (as expected) and with several silky viscous legs on the sides of the glass. Aroma is of tart green apples, a little bit of a Jolly Rancher fakeness to it but mostly just bright, zippy crisp sour apple. There’s also a touch of alcohol burn in the nose that either dissipates quickly through evaporation or fades into the apple tartness and tickles my nose into submission. I really can’t tell exactly, but I think there’s a little of both going on. The beautiful thing about this stuff is how well-integrated all of the flavors are, and at 12% ABV the alcohol is one of the primary among them. The taste captures a lot of the same apple candy and fresh juice with some mead-like honey character, then a very soft touch of earthiness and apple skin down the finish. Medium length on the finish with a slightly sticky, sappy residue left on the lips. Slick medium body with a fuzzy burn down the throat and gentle warmth on the sides of the mouth. It may be funny to say with such a sweetly fruity concoction, but if the finish were a bit drier, this stuff would be even more lovely. A real treat for a grown-up juice lover looking for a new indulgence.

This cider was a nice surprise gift in by my Secret Santa...interestingly on my beer hiatus this got lost in the mix and I re-discovered it tonight. This pours an orangey slight yellow mix with a thin soapy head that is whisked quickly away. Aroma is apples, tartness, alcohol, grapey-goodnesses thereof, some hints of honey and mahogany. WOW, no wonder this runs so much a bottle...that was perhaps the smoothest 12% ABV I have EVER experienced. Tart and extremely crisp, flavors are long developing with a bittering dew drop ending. Thick and syrupy with just the slightest warming of alcohol, no carbonation necessary. Oh god this is nice. Apples suddenly dont suck anymore. Finish is extremely crisp, and chewy....mmmmmmmm. Bottle is dated 2002.

Tasting from bottle in Orlando, courtesy the ever so hospitable boboski. A cider? A style I sort of mock for being on these beer sites. However, giving Jason the benefit of doubt, I figured it would be a fine experience anyway. That was an underestimation, as this thing turned my eye open to the cider world moving forward. Complexity clearly wasn’t there like a fantastic beer, but boy, this thing was ever so smooth and fine. A beautiful golden color, a very enticing candied-apple aroma with a flavor that just beautifully engaged nose and tongue. I’m not sure how other ciders will stack up against this one, but I’m gonna have to shoot for some stuff in between this and Woodchuck (haha), see how the other upper end products do (hopefully better than the mead world has been for me between Jadiwaga and Mead X). Wow, a cider! A big huge thanks to Jason again for sharing this one, a rarity, a very excellent product, and a mind altering experience.

375mL, no date. Pours a crystal clear honey golden with a couple bubbles. Nice legs. Aroma of apples, brandy/alcohol, honey, and some vinousness. Very sweet. Flavor is terribly thick and sweet with some delicious tart apple qualities, a bit of brandy, and some spice I can’t figure out. Wow, from the aroma I wasn’t expecting a ton, but the flavor is frickin’ amazing. The alcohol is noticeable, but there’s so much sweetness and tartness that it never burns or detracts, but complements. Sweet finish. Apples linger in the mouth for a looooong time. Full syrupy body with no carbonation. Would be an excellent digestif or with some good stinky strong cheese, as peter already suggested. The best cider I’ve ever had--totally awesome. I purchased this @ John’s Grocery around 6mos. ago, and of course they sold out within a couple days. I wish I’d grabbed another one.

bottle from JimMack at Dickinsonbeers’ 1/20/07. clear glossy golden yellow color, honey and apple aroma, a little musty. flavor is very sweet, apples , and a faint touch of calvados. nice warming finish. thanks, Jim!